Paprika and Spirited Away are among the few Anime animations that represent why I love watching anime movies so much. Both are extremely artistic and highly masterful works that take storytelling and animation into a whole new visual dimension. Truly, most animes are like that in a sense. It's mind food for the visually deprived and like your favorite foods they continue to whet your appetite for more.
The famous director, Satoshi Kon who also won an award for "Millennium Actress", continues to shine with his newest spectacle "Paprika".

A team of researchers discovered a medical breakthrough. They created a psychotherapy device that allows them to enter into the dreams of other people in an effort to cure them of any mental illnesses. However, events take a turn when two of the devices are stolen by someone in the research team. Paprika is the healer of the dreams and alter-ego of head female researcher Doctor Atsuko Chiba. Dr. Atsuko and her close fellow scientists must find the "dream terrorist" in order to save friends that have already become victims. The dreams and nightmares begin to merge with reality leaving the fate of the world in their hands.

"Waking Life" is similar to this movie where dreams move from scene to scene with fluidity and haphazardness. This is a complex adult movie with partial nudity so don't expect to watch this with your kids like "Spirited Away".

Paprika is surreal, disturbing, and intensely mind-blowing with an overwhelming parade of Japanese iconography and vibrant confetti colors. It will keep you on the edge with suspense. "Paprika" truly does add a little spice to your life.



Paprika review via Sazze.com

For almost 4 months I've fiddled with this camera and already I feel like I need to upgrade to the Canon 40D. The main reason is I need a camera that can handle low light conditions a lot better. All the restaurants that I've been commissioned to take food shots for have really dim lighting. This results in having to use my highest ISO. Thankfully Adobe Lightroom 2 enables me to use Color Noise, cutting back on the graininess of the shots. I was also a bit worried about using the XSi for magazine quality photos since it is more of a prosumer entry level camera. The lenses that I've used are the stock 18-55 mm, Canon 100 mm, and Canon 50 mm. Although the 100 mm is an excellent lens with gorgeous bokeh, the aperture is too small to get everything I want into focus and I have to move a few feet back just to get the entire plate shot. My favorite lens for food shots is definitely the $88 Canon 50 mm lens. Close up macros pair well with the 100 mm.


My Canon Rebel XSi Review at Sazze.com:
The Canon Rebel 450D/XSi is a remarkable digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera that truly set the bar for entry-level DSLRs. The 450D is a significantly improved upgrade from the Canon Rebel 400D/XTi with the addition of several impressive features for greater flexibility and control.

Major improvements include:
1.Live View AF (take photos like a point and shoot from the LCD screen)
2. 3" LCD screen
3.Bigger and brighter viewfinder
4.Faster processor allows you to take 3.5 frames per second (XTi 3fps/40D 6.5fps)
5.Spot metering
6.Improved 9-point Autofocus
7.Image Stablized Kit lens
8.Smaller battery with longer life

Some things I wanted improved from the XTi is on the XSi like the ISO button and image delete button accessible outside the camera instead of in the menu.

My profile:
Amateur photographer with a Canon A620, Olympus 560UZ, and Canon S3IS. I've handled a Canon SX100IS and Sony H7 before I returned those. So I'm a semi-picky photographer when it comes to choosing cameras that suit my needs. I also handled a Nikon D300 and Canon XTi for several weeks each from friends.

I've had the Canon Rebel XSi for less than a week.

My intended uses:
Build a portfolio as a freelance photographer and sell my photos.
Medium of artistic expression
Capture family moments in top quality images

In my quest to find my first DSLR, the main thing I kept in mind was that any one of the DSLRs I choose will ultimately produce excellent quality photos depending on how I use the camera. The photographer makes the photos not the camera. All the entry-level cameras perform amazingly well so it depends on what features you are looking for. I knew the Nikon D300 and Canon 40D were not in my budget so I narrowed my choices down to the Nikon D80 and Canon XSi. However, my finalized decision to get the Canon XSi stemmed from the fact that Canon has more lenses available and all the lenses that I looked at and wanted were within my price range. Consequently, if I ever plan on upgrading my DSLR body, I would have a collection of great lenses already in my arsenal.

More reasons why I chose the XSi:
1. The body and the kit lens only cost me $594 = affordable. Nikon cameras and lenses are expensive!
2. Has the same Digic III processor as the 40D
3. Live View AF (the 40D does not have this feature, but of course the 40D still outperforms the XSi and has lots of advanced features.) Live View allows you use the LCD to focus and take a picture instead of using the viewfinder. It is really helpful for macro shots.
4. Impressive photos at high ISOs, outperforms all entry-levels in its class (not sure about the D90 because it has yet to come out).
5. Well-regarded and improved 18-55mm kit lens with added Image Stabilization. This lens takes sharper images and works fantastic without a tripod compared to the XTi kit lens.
6. Uses SD/SDHC memory cards. Thank goodness because I have tons of that and they are dirt cheap. A 4GB card is less than $20!

Accessories I also purchased:
1.Canon 50mm f1.8 ll lens
For my second lens I purchased the highly affordable Canon 50mmlens at $86. It is also fantastic for portraits because of the f 1.8 aperture setting. This allows you to have a narrow depth of field resulting in a blurred background and a crisp subject. Tripod needed for low light.
2.Nikon Pen Lens Cleaning Kit
3.Hoya UV 55 mm and 58 mm filters (protects the lenses from dust, scratches, and UV light).
4.Lowerpro 250 Fastpack Bagpack in black for storing everything and for traveling and hiking
5.LCD screen protector

Overall I was still blown away by the quality of the photos even though I expected it. I am also extremely impressed at how much easier it is to use than I expected once I read the manual. The manual itself was easy to understand and well written with helpful illustrations that guide you. Read this over a couple times. It really does give you tips and guides you through all of the camera features. I could not be happier with my decision and I would absolutely recommend this superb budget DSLR to anyone.

Helpful Resources:
*Canon EOS Rebel 450D/XSi User's Manual pdf : http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0300000933/EOSRXSi-EOS450D_EN.pdf
*Canon EOS Rebel 450D/XSi Homepage (contains updates, sample, videos. and more): http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eosdigital4/index.html
*Canon Digital Learning Center: http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=HomePageAct
*Which Camera to Buy? via Netmark :http://web500.us/which-one-to-buy-canon-xsi-canon-450d-or-nikon-d80-nikon-d40/
*How to use Canon XSi via Netmark: http://web500.us/how-to-use-canon-eos-450d-xsi/
*Essential XSi Accessories: http://web500.us/canon-xsi-or-canon-450d-accessories/

Video Tutorials on Youtube:
*Larkphoto: http://www.youtube.com/user/LarkPhoto
*MichaeltheMentor: http://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelTheMentor

Forums:
*DPreview 450D: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1031
*DPreview "Tips for using Manual Mode" discussion: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=29174950
*DCresource Canon DSLRs: http://www.dcresource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11

I don't plan on expecting too much from the new movie Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks based on the novel by Dan Brown. I do predict that it will be better than the Da Vinci Code. How can two great books suck twice in a row as movies? Unless it's a conspiracy...(inside joke for Dan Brown readers).

Angels & Demons is the prequel to Da Vinci Code and is a must-read if you enjoy Dan Brown's books. Da Vinci Code the movie was the most disappointing novel turned movie I have ever encountered. I read the novel right before it became a hype and it is definitely a book everyone should read. Many extreme religious people find offense to Dan Brown's books, but I find them highly entertaining cerebral reads. His books are wrought with crazy twists, shocking conspiracies, intense action, and subtle romances.

Even if Angels & Demons proves a surprising success, it will never redeem The Da Vinci Code. That has been laid to rest in the pyres of Suckdom since production.

Check out my brief review of The Da Vinci Code the movie at Sazze!

I will be guest posting stories and ideas from TED Blog on Blazed Jive that leave a strong impression on me. TED Blog is my absolute favorite blog and I enjoy learning something new every day. It is my go to site to "learn about learning".

The following video is a playful presentation about the "powerful link between creativity and play" by Tim Brown. He correlates the fundamental learning environment of elementary students with enhancing the creative process for designers. Being a homeschooler, I love little tidbits of information that improves my teaching curriculum and consequently helps to amplify my daughter's knowledge and creative growth.

The premise of the presentation is broken down into three simple categories:

Exploration, Building, and Role Play

These are certainly not new concepts in a preschool setting, but it is interesting to see them carried over into a professional environment. How cool is that to work in a place that has you play all day? I'd even forego wearing dresses just to slide down the fire pole!

To keep my toddler entertained and stimulated, I use a book called Science Play. The fact that we're forced to go outside or think with our hands keeps the boredom fairies away.

Science Play is a well thought out book that contains various science activities for toddlers. Read my full review at Sazze: http://www.sazze.com/products/science-play-beginning-discoveries-for-2-to-6-year-olds1

Smart Kids Gameclub is the best DS game for toddlers. It is easy peasy for a toddler to play with various challenging and educational activities. It is separated into two rooms-Girl's Playroom and Boy's Playroom. My daughter began playing this when she turned two and it remains her favorite game. There are so many activities and games. The harder ones she can learn to play as she grows. I can say she has improved in these areas: hand eye coordination, problem solving, counting, and memorization.

Screenshots:





Check out my full review at Sazze.com: http://www.sazze.com/products/smart-kids-gameclub-for-ds

Blink! is a must-read. Ever wonder why you have to keep calling someone's name over and over and over when they are on the computer or watching TV? It's because they are so focused on what they are doing or watching that they literally cannot hear you. A person's mind can be zoomed in on his or her task that all peripherals become handicapped. Yes, I'm speaking for myself as well. My husband would have to yell sometimes because I cannot hear him even though he's 10 feet away when I'm on the computer or watching TV. It's called mind blindness. Blink! explains all that.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/research/ I'm going to jump this in here to give you the opportunity to take the IAT (Implicit Association Test) "assess your conscious and unconscious preferences for over 90 different topics ranging from pets to political issues, ethnic groups to sports teams, and entertainers to styles of music." Take the test. You may be shocked with the results.

Blink! is certainly an "intellectual adventure story". It is an important read for many people wanting to understand the theory of how the origins of their thoughts and feelings generate the decisions we make during any type of given situation whether it be high stress or mundane. Blink is important because it provides insight into our unconscious and helps us to make better decisions also encouraging looking past stereotypes and prejudices. Malcolm Gladwell calls these errors of judgment the "Warren Harding Error" from a famous example where people voted for President Harding based on his charisma, personality, and physical appearance. Yet former President Harding became one of the worst presidents in history.

One of his ideas really hit home for me and that is what to do during a high stress emergency situation. As a parent, I don't want to feel crippled when action and quick decisions need to be made. The idea is that you act out the event as if it were really happening to get your mind and body ready to deal with those situations. The example he uses is with special forces that have to undergo intense training simulations where they get shot (not fatally of course) and have to continue to function. Their heart rate at the beginning is high then it lowers with each exercise. When we have a high rush of adrenaline our mind is vulnerable to our unconscious and we have to learn how to control it in order to minimize mistakes. A classic example of a scene like that is the fatal 41 bullet shooting of Diallo by four police officers. They made the wrong snap judgment thinking Diallo was a criminal and had a gun. The police officers stood over his body only to realize what he was holding in his hand was not a gun, but a wallet.

Blink! is such an influential book with the objective of freeing your understanding of how your thinking works in order to make the world a better place making better choices. Blink! is based on Malcolm Gladwell's theories, but I believe there is some truth to them. I plan on picking up "The Tipping Point" and "Late Bloomer".

Partial excerpt of Reading Group Guide, A Conversation with Author Malcolm Gladwell page 7:
**What do you want people to take away from Blink?
"[Blink]It is concerned with the smallest components of our everyday lives-with the content and origin of those instantaneous impressions and conclusions that bubble up whenever we meet a new person or confront a complex situation or have to make a decision under conditions of stress. I think it's time we paid more attention to those fleeting moments. I think that if we did, it would change the way wars are fought, the kinds of products we see on shelves, the kinds of movies get made, the way police officers are trained, the way couples are counseled, the way job interviews are conducted, and on and on. And if you combine all those little changes together, you end up with a different and happier world."

Source: http://www.sazze.com/products/malcolm-gladwell-blink-the-power-of-thinking-without-thinking

Anyone looking for an excellent starter book on tips and techniques to take magazine quality food shots should read this book. This book provides the basics of what goes on during a professional food shoot; food stylists, prop stylists, how to handle clients, and protecting yourself and your equipment. It contains tips and tricks food stylists use to make food look deliciously tantalizing even though the technique would ultimately gross you out if you knew what they were actually using. Like using glue instead of milk for cereal shots.

There are a lot of helpful examples of what photos not to take and focuses on the artistic and creative. According to award winning food photographer Lou Manna, magazine quality photos are "always" post processed and manipulated. A little post processing never hurt, but you need to be a Photoshop pro to do the best. He provides an example of using Photoshop on a photo with simple step-by-step instructions.


Further, food lightning is an area that was disappointingly downplayed. So if you're looking for information on how to light food, look elsewhere. The information in the book is easy and straightforward. Read it a couple times and the information will be well retained. It is great, but it doesn't contain enough valuable information for me to buy and keep. Borrow it from the library and read for yourself before making a purchase.

One important tip I learned from taking food shots for a magazine, is sometimes you need to find out where the photo is going to be on the page. If it is on the left page, the food should not face left or else it will lead the reader right out of the page.

For more of my reviews please visit Sazze: http://www.sazze.com/products/muska-lipman-digital-food-photography/17263

My first post is dedicated to a guy named Zia since he absolutely abhorred the preview to this show. :)

Beverly Hills Chihuahua is such a great family film. Normally the preview gives away too much of the movie or falsely portrays what the movie truly is about. Thankfully it is both. It isn't a musical like "Happy Feet" nor is it cheesy or annoying. There is no singing whatsoever. Director Raja Gosnell has a knack for family films and did an excellent job with this movie.

The movie provides rich colorful scenes of Mexico and conveniently timed the grand parade of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). In my city, Dia de los Muertos is a spectacular event so it was cool to see that incorporated in the movie. I purposely left out the plot because not knowing the plot adds to the excitement of the film.

Overall the movie was very funny and unexpectedly charming. It is DVD buy worthy and we can't wait to add it to our DVD collection.

I also saw several snuggling couples in the theater as well as groups of friends. This is a wonderful movie for any age. Watch it in theaters now!

For more of my reviews visit: http://www.sazze.com/products/disneys-beverly-hills-chihuahua/17291